Duties

This Transportation Security Specialist position is located in Intelligence and Analysis (I&A), Operations Support (OS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Duties include but are not limited to:

• Provides guidance to staff to address diverse, complex issues impacting the transportation industry; acts as a senior technical point of contact on the development of operational guidelines and standards used in forecasting trends in threats and risks to international inbound cargo; develops plans, techniques, and policies to address current or anticipated threats and risks; provides policy guidance and instruction to internal and external stakeholders without intervention from management.
• Reviews open source research and analysis using government and other databases to develop comprehensive understanding of potential threats to transportation and Homeland Security; reviews reports, presentations, and briefings in support of transportation security and Homeland security issues, often with time constraints; reviews substantive analysis to identify vetting results that are significant in the identification and mitigation of threats to the transportation infrastructure.
• Utilizes, and directs use of, operational or similar type Background Investigative Systems such as the Performance and Results Information System (PARIS), State Department's Consular Consolidated Database (CCD) and the Passport Information Electronic Records System (PIERS), NCTC Online, CIA Wire and DNI Open Source, Automated Targeting System-Passenger (ATSP) and the Treasury Enforcement Communication System (TECS), Accurint, and the Official Airline Guide (OAG) to perform research and analysis in a transportation and/or Homeland Security context, taking action to obtain the proper intelligence and law enforcement information to support accurate security threat assessments.
• Represents TSA during briefings with domestic and international organizations to address international transportation security and the Air Cargo Advance Screening Program.
• Exercises a full range of supervisory and personnel management authorities and responsibilities in directing work of subordinate staff. Coordinates and evaluates subordinates' work to assure balanced workload and timely responses to assigned actions. Gives advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters. Develops job descriptions and assigns work to subordinates based on priorities.

This position is also being announced through Public (US Citizens) procedures under Announcement #HQ-OS-I&A-21-006252-P. Candidates who wish to be considered under both Public (US Citizens) and Government-Wide procedures must apply to both announcements.

Supervisory/Managerial Probationary Period Requirements: Unless previously completed, you must satisfactorily complete a one-year supervisory probationary period to continue in this supervisory/managerial position.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National.
• You must have reached the minimum age (18) at the time of application.
• Selective Service registration is required.
• See additional "Conditions of Employment" and "Other Information" section
• You must complete a favorable Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI).
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Clearance.
• Must pass pre-employment drug screening AND random drug/alcohol testing.
• This is an Emergency Essential Position.
• You may be required to complete a one year Supervisory Trial Period.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate:

As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021, or before appointment or onboarding with the agency, if after November 22. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.

Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency's telework policy.

Qualifications

To qualify for the SV-J Pay Band (equivalent to GS-14), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-I or GS-13 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

• Applying transportation sector security laws, regulations, rules, policies, precedents, and operations sufficient to support of aviation and cargo transportation security policy development and evaluation of risks associated with proposed policy for aviation and cargo transportation matters;
• Utilizing analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to assess and improve transportation security capabilities of cargo security related to international inbound cargo;
• Demonstrating oral communications sufficient to develop and make clear and convincing oral presentations supported by visual aids (e.g., PowerPoint slides) on complex topics to senior executive-level audiences, senior officials, and industry and other stakeholders.

Note: Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Resumes must include the following:

• Narrative description of duties with start and end dates (including the month and year) for work experience.
• State the number of hours worked in a position (i.e. full-time or part-time). If part-time, state the total number of hours worked per week.
• Performance level (i.e. band or grade)

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Education

None.

Additional information

Salary range listed includes Locality Pay of 30.48%.

The position is located in Sterling, VA.

Eligibility to apply for other Federal positions: TSA is an Excepted Service agency exempt from most of Title 5 United States Code, including regulations which apply to displaced Federal employees (CTAP/ICTAP) of other agencies, and employment with TSA does not confer "Competitive Status" that generally results from selection and service in Competitive Service agencies. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has established an Interchange Agreement, which allows most permanent TSA employees to apply and be considered for vacancies in Competitive Service agencies. Information from OPM on this or other Interchange Agreements is available at: http://www.opm.gov .

To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation as a condition of placement into this position.

DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment , and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

TSA employees who are absent for the purpose of performing military duty may apply for any vacancies announced in their absence.

It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. Information about an individual's employment experience will be used only to determine the person's qualifications and to assess his or her relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Although an individual's personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not itself be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination. For more information, click here .

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses are not authorized.

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

More than one position may be filled from this announcement.

If you are entering TSA employment on an appointment without time limitations, you must serve a basic trial period unless you have already met the requirement.

TSA policy requires verification of Selective Service registration for male applicants born after 12/31/59. For more information click here .

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement.